Camden
has had two buildings known as Convention Hall, which can get a bit
confusing, and the issue gets even more confusing when you add the fact
that Camden had four different armories in the years between 1880 and
1960, and one of them was also called Convention Hall! It doesn't help
either that Convention Hall was also often referred to as the Civic
Center during the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, and early 1950s.

Camden's
first post-Civil War Armory was built on Bridge Avenue at West Street,
extending south to Mickle Street. In 1877 the Farmers' and Butchers' Market
Company, composed of Thomas A. Wilson, Rodolphus Bingham, Abraham Rapp,
James W. Wroth, and Charles Stockham, erected a building 150 feet by 175
feet. It was intended for a wholesale and retail market, but did not
prosper, for the reason that Philadelphia was so near, the wholesale
trade could not be gained and the location was not suitable for
retailing.

After
being used for two years as a market, it was fitted up for theatrical
purposes with a seating capacity of 1000 persons. It finally was secured
by the Sixth Regiment, National Guard of New Jersey, and was used as the
armory and headquarters until it burned down on March 16, 1906. It was
the home of the Camden Electrics professional basketball team, part of
the National Basketball League, the first professional league, from 1898
to 1904. Coached by William
"Billy" Morgenweck, they were the league champions in
1902-1903.

On
September 7, 1896 the cornerstone of the Armory on Haddon Avenue at
Mickle Street was laid by New Jersey Governor Griggs. It was located
across Haddon Avenue from the Camden's pre-1931 City Hall, and the
present Cooper Hospital. The contract for his building was awarded to
George W. Roydhouse in April of 1896. The inaugural ball was held in the
new armory on Friday, February 18, 1898. The ground upon which this
building was erected was purchased from the estates of Sarah W. and
Elizabeth B. Cooper (Peter L. and Peter V. Voorhees, Trustees) in June
of 1894, for about $16,000, and presented to the State. This Armory was
the home of the Third Regiment, New Jersey National Guard, and is
depicted on many postcards.

Another
Armory was built nearby on Wright Avenue around the time of World War I.
It was the home of Battery B, 1st Battalion, Heavy Field
Artillery, National Guard of New Jersey.

After
World War I, Camden built its first Convention Hall, on Memorial Avenue
at Line Street. It should
be noted that though the Hall's mailing address was on Line Street,
the front of the building was on Argonne
Street, a one block thoroughfare that ran between St. Mihiel Street
and Memorial Avenue.
The building opened up in time for the 1926
Sesquicentennial celebration, which was held in Philadelphia. Camden's
first Convention Hall hosted sports, business, and civic events until it
burned in the early 1950s. Felix
Bocchicchio, who also managed Jersey
Joe Walcott, Camden's world champion heavyweight boxer, promoted
boxing shows at the hall for a year or so after World War II. One of the last series of events held in the
old Convention Hall was a live television show called Big Top, which
featured circus acts.

In
June of 1953, Camden's first Convention Hall on Memorial Avenue
at Line Street burned down. In short order, most of the events that were being
held there were booked into the old Third Regiment Armory, which was no
longer being used by the National Guard, on Mickle
Street between Haddon Avenue and Carteret
Street.

Things
became confusing with a quickness, as the old armory was renamed
Convention Hall. For those born after 1950, the only Convention Hall
they would have memory of was the former Armory, the second
Convention Hall.

During
the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s Camden's movie theaters closed one by one,
but Convention Hall continued to host different events. Most notable in
these years were professional basketball played by the Camden Bullets,
roller derby featuring the Philadelphia (or Eastern) Warriors, and
professional wrestling. Many of the most notable professional wrestlers
of this era appeared at Convention Hall, including Bruno Sammartino,
Gorilla Monsoon, and Lou Albano.

It
all came to an end when the second Convention Hall was destroyed by
fire. The site has been a parking lot for the nearby Cooper Hospital and
Cooper Plaza medical buildings.

Besides
pictures of the buildings, on this page you will find pictures and such
of events at the Convention Halls, and a few links to sites relating to
these events.

Memorial
Avenue

Aerial view of Memorial Avenue, taken in the mid-
1930s. Camden Convention Hall is at bottom of page, Mechling Brothers'
factory is across Memorial Avenue, Parkside,
Forest Hill Park, Camden
High School, Farnham Park, and
Central
Airport are also visible.

Click
on Image to Enlarge

In
front of Convention Hall....

Late
1930s photo of Camden Police Department vehicles lined up on Argonne
Street in front of Convention Hall.

This
seldom-seen picture shows the Third Regiment Armory as see from the west,
along the railroad tracks and "Chinese Wall" that are now Mickle
Boulevard. Haddon
Avenue can be seen at the
rear, coming out from under the wall and passing behind the station. The
rear of the train appears to have just crossed Mickle
Street, which passed
directly in from the Armory, which, as stated above, was renamed Convention
Hall in the 1950s.

The
Second Convention Hall Postcards from
1900s-1910sThe building was
then known as the Third Regiment Armory

3rd
Regiment Armory

3rd
Regiment Armory

Armory,
3rd Regiment National Guard N. J.
1906

3rd
Regiment Armory & Soldier's Monument

3rd
Regiment Armory & Soldier's Monument

The
Armory, Postcard from 1911

3rd
Regiment Armory & Soldier's Monument

Soldier's
Monument
as Seen from the Armory

Camden
Courier-Post - January 10, 1928

FRANKIE
RAPP FAVORED TO ECLIPSE RECORDS OF ALL LOCAL BOXERSCritics
Predict Great Ring Future for Former
Camden Catholic High School Baseball and Basketball Star

Has Scored 12 Knockouts
in 17 Bouts

By TOM RYAN

Is
Frankie Rapp, South Camden lightweight due to eclipse the performance of
every scrapper who has ever been developed here?

That
is the question that was asked at a gathering of local fight critics the
other day and the consensus of opinion was that Rapp will eventually
outshine every lad who is considered a local product. Frankie’s
ability to batter his opponent into submission within short space of
time is the reason that local critics favor him to rise higher In the
boxing “racket” than any other Camden fighter, including both Roxie
Allen and Mickey Blair, who are the outstand stars at the present time.

Rapp’s
knockout record is one of the most remarkable ever compiled by a local
lad.He has scored twelve
knockouts out of seventeen bouts only two of the scrapes going over two
rounds. He has won four on decisions and has lost but one fracas, the
tilt he lost resulting in the wildest night ever witnessed at the Convention
Hall, - a near-riot ensuing when the decision was rendered
against him.

Has
Kayoed 4 out of 5 “Pros”

Frankie
has engaged in twelve amateur bouts and five professional en­counters. He
stowed away eight out of the twelve “Simon
Pures” he faced and four out of five professionals. He was Middle
Atlantic A. A. featherweight champion before turning “pro” having won
the title while representing Shanahan Catholic Club of Philadelphia.

His rise has been spectacular to say the least. He never had had a glove
on until the Courier Relief Fund amateur boxing tourney, which was staged
in conjunction with the South Jersey Exposition of 1926, enabled a host of
South Jersey lads to display
their prowess as “glory” glove wielders.

Rapp’s
athletic ability prior to the Courier Fund bouts had been confined to
baseball and basketball. He is a graduate of Camden Catholic High
School;
he played the outfield on the 1924 and 1925 teams and a forward position
on the basketball team during his junior and senior years.

Wins First Bout by Knockout

Fast
as a whippet on his feet, Rapp proved to be one of the best leadoff lads
ever to represent the Green and White, while his speed on the court made
him a dangerous foe to guard, as he also was an accurate shot from the
field and foul line.

It was regarded
as a joke by Rapp’s friends when lie announced his intention of entering
the amateur bouts, but after his first appearance when he knocked out Lou
“Kid’ Hinkle in the first session they began to perk up their ears for
Frankie showed evidence of developing into a .300 consistent hitter. He
next won the judges decision over Tommy Skymer and followed up this
victory by stopping Jesse Urban In the fourth round, the judges calling
the bout even at the close of the third round.

Then came the combat that nearly wrecked the Convention
Hall. “Red”
Haines, who also had cut a wide swath in the lightweight ranks, and Rapp
came together for the lightweight title. It developed into a slugfest at
the start and for the entire three rounds both endeavored to annihilate
each other. Both boys had a host of friends on hand who thought that their
favorite had won and when the late Jack Dean, who was the third man in the
ring, was forced to decide the issue, owing to the disagreement of the
judges, the fun began.

Haines Decision
Starts Riot

There was considerable money bet out the outcome and when Dean’s
decision favoring Haines as the winner was announced, Rapp’s supporters
started scrapping with Haines’ adherents, who, nothing loath, piled in
with the result that it took the combined effort of every cop in the hall
to stop the impromptu bouts. However. Deans decision stood, and, while the
writer was of the opinion that a draw would have been proper verdict and
that another round should have been ordered to decide the issue, he knew
then as he knows now that the decision rendered by Dean was his honest
opinion of the bout. Jack was a “square shooter” if there ever was one
and as good a Judge of a bout as any man in South Jersey.

That bout wound up Rapp’s Camden career in the
amateurs as shortly after he was induced to represent Shanahan in the
featherweight class. He won every one of his eight “glory’ battles for
the Philadelphia organization with comparative ease and after copping the
featherweight crown, decided he was ripe for a whack at the “money
getters”.

Frankie
guessed right. In his first bout here he halted Billy Cortez, of
Philadelphia, in one round. He next flattened Frankie Youker, local lad,
in the very same round and then outpointed Manuel Flores, also of Camden,
in six rounds.

Young
Heppard, of Riverside, conceded to be a “killer”, was Rapp’s next
victim. Frankie got rid of him in one round and in his last fuss knocked
out Bill Walters, of Germantown, in the first round of the main
preliminary at the Cambria Club last Friday night.

Frankie
is 20 years old, is single, and opts to remain so during the ensuing year
despite the fact that he looks like the best money earner in the city for
the next twelve months.

Camden
Courier-Post - January 10, 1928

CITY
LEAGUE CLUBS BEGIN SECOND HALF

Two
Games at Convention Hall Tonight; Two New Clubs Join Circuit

Second-half competition in the Reesman basketball league will begin tonight with a twin bill at Convention
Hall.

Thirteenth
Ward, which holds the edge in the yet unfinished first-half race, meets
the formidable Camden Police quintet. Wayne and Ninth Wail meet in the
other tussle.

Two
new clubs have joined the league, for the second-half title hunt.

Charley
Humes, manager of the Camden Community Club in the County League,
will pilot his First Ward club in the municipal loop during the final
semester while further interest is assured with the addition of the
Central Camden aggregation. These clubs are keen rivals and both boast
of strong rosters.

It is understood that Humes will file the
names of several players who saw service in the county circuit as
members of his old First Ward outfit while others who played with that
team are also listed with Central Camden. Albert ‘Reds' Malloie is
boss of the Central outfit and has signed up a classy collection of
cagers for this type of play. Grover
"Worm" Wearshing, who led
Central Camden to the Reesman
baseball championship last season, and who is regarded as one of the
best backfield performers in this vicinity, is one of the Malloie
entrants. Sam Godfrey. A teammate with Wearshing at Temple University,
Johnny Chambers, Clayton Phifer, Lucky Mezger, Johnny Morrissey, Tom
Tracy, and Ross “Bunny” Blood complete the cast with Malloie.

At the last meeting of the league managers it was
decided to reduce the salaries of referees from $5.00 to $3.50 for each
night’s work. Officials in the past have handled two games and the
same stipulation is required for the lower fee in the second half or the
schedule.

All
eight of the first half combatants are planning to strengthen their
rosters far the final drive. South Camden, Haddon A. A. Radio A.A., St.
Paul, Ninth Ward. Camden Police, Wayne, and Fifth Ward are the
contenders.

Camden Basketball in
Test Against Eastern League Kennett Square Club TonightWEARSHING READY
FOR OPENING NIGHTTemple
Hero Enlists With Lobley for Eastern League Fray With Kennett SquareHUGE CROWD IS EXPECTED

By
STEVE O'KEEFEMorning Post Sports Editor

Grover
Wearshing, whose football feats and dazzling play on the basketball
boards, form a glowing part of the athletic history of Camden
High School and Temple University, has enlisted with the Camden Club
in the Eastern League and will join the team when the inaugural skirmish
with the Kennett Square (Pa.) quintet is staged at the Convention
Hall annex tonight.

Wearshing,
now gridiron mentor at Camden
High, will thus don the royal blue and white with another court hero
who sparkled for the purple and gold. Eddie Lobley, captain of the Penn
passers last season already has signed to perform along with Phil Knudsen,
Bill Bergen, Tony Ca1land, Bill Johnson and Bernie Maguire the remainder
of the local roster.

Owing
to the heavy demand for seats, Manager Brown feels that a capacity crowd
will met the club.

Announcement
of the signing of Wearshing
was made last night by Manager Jimmy Brown who expressed confidence that
the present lineup will prove capable of hanging up a victory over Joe
Sheehan and his invading mates tonight. Whether Wearshing
will start is not determined but it is high1y probable that he will at
some time during the fray pair off in the backfield with the rugged
Bergen, who proved a popular member of the local cast last season.

Johnson in Backfield

Bergen's
running mate when the game starts will probably be Johnson, who combines
the happy faculty of speedy defensive play and. a deadly aim for the
baskets. Lobley will get the call for one of the forward berths with the
sturdy little Calland or Maguire in the opposite corner.

Knudsen,
who abandoned the American: League position with the Paterson club, is
regarded as one of the foremost pivot men in the East and his husky,
six-foot-four-inch frame should prove valuable in mid-floor combat.

Owing
to the fact that Knudsen, Bergen, Calland and Johnson have been playing
regularly with the Union City Reds for the past several weeks, it is
likely that Manager Brown will send this quartet into action with Lobley
at the start of the game. Johnson, however, may be shifted to a forward
post alongside Lobley in the even Wearshing
is summoned to open the battle in the backfield.

Sheehan and Scrone at Guards

The
Kennett Square ensemble will show Joe Sheehan, one-time Camden
Catholic High and Villanova College guard, paired with Joe Scrone, a
former local dribbler, in the defensive department with "Red"
Ellis and Walter Gailey at forwards. Charley "Dink" Irwin is
slated to engage Knudsen in the jumping duel.

Fans
who flock to the civic hall for the fray will see a change in the battle
floor, as the court has been shifted to the center of the annex and space
for several hundred additional seats provided. In addition to this, music
for dancing during the intermission and following the game will be
provided.

The
preliminary tussle tonight will present Sam Price and his Peerless Kids in
action with the R. M. Hollingshead passers. This game will mark the start
of the Camden County Industrial League pennant scramble. The early game is
timed to start promptly at 8 p. m., under a penalty for failure to do so,
in order that the Eastern League teams may be permitted to take the floor
at 9 o'clock.

Camden
Courier-Post - November 12, 1930

WHIZ
FIVE TO CLASH WITH PEERLESS FOEIndustrial
League Starts Pennant Scramble at Convention Hall Annex Tonight

All
the tension connected with advance preparations will subside at 8 o'clock
tonight when two of the eight teams in the Camden County Industrial League
start the race for the 1930 championship. The opening event will be a
clash between R.M. Hollingshead and the Peerless Kid Quintets and the
action will be served as a preliminary feature to the Eastern League
contest at the Convention
Hall annex.

The
Hollingshead outfit, winner of the Industrial baseball diadem during the
past summer, will make another bid for a silver trophy to add to the
collection which Manager Jim Space and his laboring athletes are making. A
large number at employees of the Whiz concern have reserved seats and the
battle is expected to lure several hundred early fans to the Civic shed.

Sam
Price, fair-haired pilot of the Peerless band, will send a staff of rugged
shooters into the skirmish. Johnny Albrecht, midget forward, is to be
paired with "Cas" Kopec in the offensive department, while
"Rap" Price is due to jump center, with Marion Bretschneider and
George Willis stationed in the backfield.

Against
this cast Manager Space will probably have Wallace “Reds” Sheehan,
Larry Higgins, John "Kip" Evans, Henry Engal and Ollie Guthrie.
This may not be the Whiz starting lineup, for Rudy Lodgek, Frank Falton,
Carleton Peacock, John Flynn and Jim Dalton rate as a capable corps of
recruits. -

In
order that no delay may be encountered, the rule governing the scheduled
starting time at 8 p. m. will be rigidly enforced.

Following
tonight's "opener” the six other clubs in the circuit will await
the first of the weekly three-game mat­inee bills on Saturday. Haddon
Craftsmen meet Warren Webster
at 2 p.m. while RCA Photophone and Radio Condenser clash one hour later
and Camden Coke battles Cities Service in the windup event..

Camden
Courier-Post - October 13, 1931

Vaudeville
and Radio Stars To Feature
'Relief Ball' of Shriners Tomorrow NightPopularity
Contest Winner to Get Diamond Ring and Lead March
CONVENTION HALL READY FOR SHOW
Nine Entertainment Acts On Program; 400 Newsies Guests

Nine
vaudeville acts, radio celebrities and a popularity contest will
feature the first annual professional show and dance of the
Camden Shrine Club of Crescent Temple tomorrow night in Convention
Hall.

The
show is being held to establish a permanent relief fund and is
being directed by Jerry Baehr. Harry G. Hinchman, president of
the club, is general chairman of the arrangements.

The
popularity contest will close at midnight and the winner will be
crowned "Miss Camden Shrine Club". She will be
presented with a diamond ring and will lead the grand march for
the dance.

Four
hundred Courier-Post newsboys, invited by Hinchman, will be
guests at the big show, a special section having been set aside
for them. The newsies will be led to the hall by David Loeb,
Courier-Post circulation manager.

The
show will open with a concert by the Camden Shrine Club Band, of
which Joseph Bossle, Jr., is director , and Paul R. Wiest,
assistant director. The opening selection will be a march
dedicated to Hinchman and written by Bossle. Other numbers
include melodies by Victor Herbert; Concert Mazurka”La
Czarina," by Ganne, and march, "Crescent Temple"
by Mayer.

Radio
performers will appear in the vaudeville program, which opens
with Harry Taylor’s Syncopators, Main Line favorites, singing
compo­sitions of the day. Other numbers on the program include:
Margaret Freeman, in "The Princess of Presentation";
Will Morris, European novelty in "Fun on the Bike";
Marion Gibney, "Talking About Her Neighbors"; Smith,
Strong and Lee, "Three Tin Types"; Bonell and Bay,
European sensations from the Hollywood Club, New York; Miss
Freeman, songbird; Deluxe Quintet, comedy, singing and musical
novelty, and "A Night on Broadway," one of Gotham's
singing and dancing revues.

John
H. Sibley is assistant general chairman and Harry M. Dease,
treasurer. Mayor Roy
R. Stewart is chairman of the publicity committee, assisted
by George W. Williams, Jr., Michael
Greenetz and Silas Boyer.

A
famous orchestra of radio crooners will provide music for the
dance which begins with the grand march at midnight.

The
committee last night announced that no seats have been reserved
and ticketholders going to the hall early will get the choice of
the best seats.

Camden
Courier-Post * October 14, 1931

16
BEAUTIES TO VIE FOR HONORS TONIGHTShrine Club to
Select Contest Winner at Convention Hall Show

Sixteen
South Jersey girls are competing in a popularity contest which
closes tonight at the first annual professional show and dance
of Camden Shrine Club in Convention Hall.

The
winner of the contest, which is being directed by Mrs. Norman
Nutting, will be announced at midnight. She will be
presented with a diamond ring and crowned "Miss Camden
Shrine Club" with pomp and ceremony. The winner will then
lead the grand march.

Jerry
Baehr, director of the show, announced last night that dancing
will start at 10:00 p. m. A radio orchestra will provide music
for the dance numbers. Proceeds are for the club's permanent
relief fund..

Camden
Courier-PostOctober 14, 1931

Newsies Get Tickets For Shrine
Show

These
lucky "newsies" will see circus performers, musical comedy
and radio stars at Camden Shrine Club show in Convention Hall tonight.
Harry G. "Happy" Rathbone, Courier-Post circulation man, is
distributing free tickets to newsboys who work in the vicinity of the
Pennsylvania Railroad ferry station.

Camden
Courier-Post
October 15, 1931

Shrine
Club's Relief Fund Is Swelled as 4000 Applaud At One of
Greatest ShowsConvention
Hall Crowded, Several Thousand Dollars Realized
BEATRICE FUNK MOST POPULAR
Event So Successful It May Become Annual Affair

The
relief fund of the Camden Shrine Club, which will aid its
unemployed and distressed members, was swelled by several
thousand dollars last night from the receipts of one of the
greatest vaudeville shows ever seen in the Convention Hall.

The
applause, of more than 4000 persons who crowded the auditorium
signified that the patrons had been amply rewarded for their
attendance in the cause of charity. In addition to the paid
admissions, 400 Camden newsboys were made happy with paste
boards that admitted them free to the show. This was arranged
through Harry G. "Happy" Rathbone, of the Camden
Post-Courier circulation department, and those directing the
frolic.

BEATRICE FUNK

Who
was chosen queen of the show and dance held at Convention Hall
last night by the Camden Shrine Club of Crescent Temple. Miss
Funk last year also was the Camden winner of the Stanley
Sunshine contest.

Miss
Funk Wins Contest

At
the close of the show a popularity contest from among 18 South
Jersey girls, who vied for the honor of being selected as Miss
Camden Shrine Club, was awarded to Beatrice Funk 1618 Broadway,
who obtained 12,970 votes.

The
contest was directed by Mrs. Norman Nutting and the fortunate
young woman was presented with a diamond ring and

crowned
with pomp and ceremony. She then participated in the grand march
that followed.Votes of other contestants were:

The
entertainment was opened with selections from the Camden Shrine
club band, which was directed by Joseph Bossle, Jr., and
assisted by Paul R. West.

Harry
Taylor's syncopators provided orchestra music for the vaudeville
and later rendered selections for the dance. The vaudeville was
presided over by Margaret Freeman, who acted as mistress of
ceremonies. Among the artists appearing was Will Morris, in
“Fun On a Bike;" Marion Gibney, who talked about her
neighbors; Smith, Strong and Lee, in a novelty number; Bonell
and Bay European sensations from a New York club; Deluxe
Quintette in comedy singing and musical novelty, and a dance
revue. Miss Freeman pleased the audience with several songs

Baehr
Directs Show

Jerry
Baehr directed the show, and Harry G. Hinchman was general
chairman of the committee on arrangements. He was assisted by
John H. Sibley, as secretary, and Harry M. Dease as treasurer.

The
committee expressed itself as being well satisfied with the
attendance and success of the show. It was the first one of its
type attempted by the Shriners and plans will be made to make it
an annual affair.

CAMDEN
TO HAVE NEW FIGHT CLUBBoxing
Revival to Be Attempted at Convention Hall on Oct. 30

An
attempt to revive boxing here at the Convention Hall
will be made on Friday night, October 30, it was announced yesterday by
promoters of the enterprise.

Jim
Thompson, one of the best known sportsmen in the city, a former
basketball star and always a strong lover of the fight game, is
secretary-treasurer of the new club and made the announcement that the
first show would be held on October 30.

Thompson
stated that he believed boxing would be welcomed by Camden sports fans
provided they were given real fights instead of merely names. He further
stated that weekly shows would be held in the Convention Hall Annex and
that if the patronage warranted it that the club would move into the
main hall.

Besides
Thompson, the other officers of the new organization are Jim Dolly, of
Moorestown, president; Lou
Schaub, of Haddonfield, manager of the Camden
Baseball Club, general manager, and Joe Griffo, of Philadelphia,
matchmaker.

Two
well known Camden entertainers will aid and abet the spooks and
the Ambassador Club in making tomorrow evening an enjoyable one
for the 5000 mummers expected to attend the club's annual masked
ball.

They
are Miss Kathryn
Hamilton and Walter Stanton, who will not only
lead the grand march, but will "put on" their acts.
Miss Hamilton is the talented daughter of Joe Hamilton, famous
minstrel, and has appeared in this vicinity on numerous
occasions as well as on vaudeville circuits. The petite
songstress resides at 1317 Park Boulevard.

Stanton
has just returned from an RKO tour. The Mack and Stanton act
played all last Winter and Summer. He has been master of
ceremonies, in which capacity he will serve tomorrow,
at a number of famous clubs, and is now

enacting
that role at the Stroller's Club in New York.

The·
club, of which Steve Kirby is president, is holding the gala affair tomorrow
night instead of on Halloween in order that dancing will not be discontinued
until 2 a. m. Pat Riley's orchestra will present the dance program, while
Harry D. Roselle will direct the grand march.

It
will be an appropriate night for the "spiriks" to chase
"Popeye”, the Courier-Post comic strip idol, as 200 newsboys who will
be guests of the club, will vie for a cash prize to be awarded to the one
whose costume renders him the best likeness to the hard-hitting sailor man.
Other prizes will be awarded to the winners of the perfect form con test and
various costume competitions.

One
of the outstanding novelties on the diversified program planned
for the Ambassador Club's annual masked ball at Convention Hall
tonight will be the "perfect form contest."

Modeled
after the bathing beauty contest, it is open to any girl who

desires
to compete. The contestants will be in bathing suits, and cash
prizes will be awarded winners. Prizes will also be awarded to the
winners in various classes of costumes and to the boy whose
disguise renders him the best likeness to "Popeye," the
sailor man of the Courier-Post comic strip. More than 200
newsboys, guests of the club, will compete for that award,

Prizes
total $300 in cash and awards for the various contests.

The
dance program, presented by Pat Riley's 12-piece orchestra, will
continue until 2:00 A.M.. The grand march will be led by Walter
Stanton and Kathryn
Hamilton, who will also number among the
entertainers. Stanton will be master of ceremonies, while Harry W.
Roselle will direct the grand march.

Steve
Kirby, president of the club, heads the committee in charge of
arrangements.

Camden
Courier-Post * October 31, 1931

'Everybody
Happy?'- Yea! Yea!

Two
of the hundreds of juvenile mummers who greeted
Halloween early were snapped last night, as they
wistfully paused in their quest of "cold
pieces" to pose for the cameraman. At left is
Alfred McLoughlin in Amish regalia. His demure
companion, garbed as aQuaker
damsel, is Bessie Cummins.

Wrinkles
and furrowed brows gave way to grins and broad smiles last night
as Camden and South Jersey was gripped by a spirit of fun.

Today
children will continue to laugh at the woes of adults. Grown­ups,
too, will adopt the festival air characteristic of clowns in place
of the depressing concern of the day. There seems to be greater
cause to seize upon an occasion for fun this year and everyone is
glad Halloween is at hand.

The
height of jollity was attained last night at the Convention
Hall where bathing beauties mingled with costumed dancers. The
occasion marked the annual masked dance of the Ambassador Club.
Prizes were distributed among the gaily-garbed revelers and more
than 200 newsboys sprinkled laughter throughout the huge civic
hall by their appearance in costumes impersonating
"Popeye."

Nearly
2500 persons, nearly all of whom were costumed, attended. Out­standing
among the throng were numerous imitators of Popeye and Olive Oyl,
Courier-Post comic strip characters.
Many attired as animals, cannibals and female impersonators
attracted comment and attention.

Walter
J. A. Stanton, vaudeville star, served as master of the fete,
and accompanied Miss
Kathryn Hamilton, popular singer, in leading the grand
march. "Joe" Hamilton, father of Miss Hamilton and
widely known as a minstrel performer, joined Stanton in one
act. Warrington's Dancing Dolls, of 921 Broadway,
and a chorus of ten, was another feature.

Music
was furnished by Pat Riley's 12-piece orchestra.

Camden
Courier-Post * October 31, 1931

BAIRD
AND LARSON AT BIG RALLY TODAY5,000
Expected to Hear Candidate at Convention Hall in Afternoon

David
Baird and Governor Morgan Larson will be the principal speakers this
afternoon at a rally of more than 5000 Republican workers and other
Baird supporters at Convention
Hall.

Walter
S. Keown, chairman of the Camden County Republican Committee, and Mrs.
Elizabeth C. Verga, State committeewoman and vice chairman of the county
committee, will preside at the rally.

E.
Bertram Mott, chairman of the State committee; Representative Charles
A. Wolverton and other State and county leaders are expected to
attend.

Workers
from all sections of the county are expected at the meeting. Reports
received at Republican headquarters will be made to the workers on the
progress of the campaign.

Leaders
in Baird's
campaign for election as Governor said last night that reports from
various sections of the State show increasing Baird
strength in Democratic strongholds, principally Hudson county. They said
his popularity throughout the State has increased materially in the
closing days of the campaign, as­suring his election by a large margin.

"Voters
are intelligent and they have been able to see through the smokescreen
the Democratic speakers have created in desperate attempts to blind them
to the real facts," said Mrs. Verga. "They have been informed
of the scandalous conditions in Hudson County, and they will, make
certain next Tuesday that the Hague stranglehold will not reach to other
sections of the State.

"The
increasing strength of Baird
throughout the State has made his opponents frantic, and they are
resorting to desperate means in a futile effort to turn the tide. They
are aware that the citizens of the State do not intend to be hoodwinked
by promises and will vote for a man who truly has their interest at
heart, and will do all within his power to advance the cause of the
State and its citizens. He has demonstrated his ability and sincerity
many times, not only in the interest of the people of South Jersey, but
for citizens throughout the State.

“I
am confident he will be elected by large plurality and will be the
greatest Governor in the history of the State.".

The parade was headed by a squad of motorcycle
police under Acting Sergeant William Taylor. They were followed by the
band, headquarters, howitzer, medical and service companies of the 114th
Infantry in command of Capt. Mahlon
F. Ivins, Jr.

Then came the massed colors, National
Guard, Naval Reserve, Disabled American Veterans, John J. Pershing Camp
No.9, United War Veterans, Gen. John A. Mather Post No. 18, Spanish War
Veterans with their fife and drum corps and the Clara E. Waller Auxiliary;
Posts 518 and 980 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and their bugle corps;
Mt. Ephraim Junior Legion, No. 150; and, bugle corps; Public Service
American Legion Post and bugle corps; Westmont American Legion Post and
bugle corps; 50 Pennsylvania Gold Star Mothers led by Mrs. Mary E. Hewson;
Elks color guard and the Salvation
Army and band.

G. A. R. Vets In Line

Three veterans of the G. A. R., in
flag-draped automobiles, participated in
the parade. They were John W. Coleman, 76, of 31 North Thirty-fifth
street, who served with the 19th Pennsylvania Cavalry; William A. Morgan,
93, of Clementon, who was with the 104th Doylestown Infantry, and Leonard
L. Roray, 89, of Glassboro, who served with Company H, Third New
Jersey Cavalry.

Ceremonies at Convention Hall opened
with advance of the colors to the stage and invocation by Rabbi Nachmann
Arnoff.

Rev. Charles Bratten Du Bell, former
chaplain of the 114th Infantry, delivered a memorial address, taking as
his subject the career of General "Stonewall" Jackson.

Congressman Charles
A. Wolverton after paying tribute to the G. A. R., Spanish American
and World War veterans, promised that Congress would make provisions to
support widows and orphans of veterans who need aid before adjournment
this Summer.

Criticizes Veteran Cuts

He attacked any plan for balancing the
national budget which does so at the expense of the veterans.

"There are two ways to balance
the budget,'" he said. "One is to take the money from the
veterans and federal employees. The other is to require wealth to
help."

American Legion, Veterans of Foreign
Wars and United Spanish War Veterans memorial services and rituals also
featured the program. Rev. Lewis A. Hayes, of Westmont, pronounced the
benediction. C. Richard
Allen, past county commander of the American Legion, was master of
ceremonies.

195 CATHOLIC HIGH STUDENTS AT MASS Graduates to Receive Diplomas Sunday Night at Convention Hall

One hundred and ninety-five students of
Camden
Catholic High School yesterday attended solemn high mass at the Church of The Immaculate Conception and heard Rev. Father Anselm, of the Franciscan Order,
deliver the baccalaureate sermon.

The graduates will receive diplomas next Sunday evening a commencement exercises to be held in
Convention Hall.

The need of
religious education in the current economic and social struggle, was emphasized by Father Anselm. Rt. Rev. Monsignor
William J. FitzGerald and Rev. James P. O'Sullivan officiated at the mass.

Camden
Courier-Post - June 13, 1933

CATHOLIC HIGH ALUMNI TO HOLD STUDENT DANCE

A reception and dance to 195 students of
Camden Catholic High School will be held Friday night at the
Walt Whitman Hotel. The event is the annual greeting of the school alumni association to the graduating class. The students will receive diplomas at the commencement exercises to be held Sunday at
Convention Hall.

Cramer Upheld in Keeping From Public Relief Payroll and Job Holders STATE DIRECTOR SAYS SECRECY AIDS 'LITTLE FELLOWS'
Denial Made That Politics Has Part in Naming of Emergency List
REMOVALS DEMANDED

Wayland P.
Cramer, Camden county relief director yesterday was victorious in his policy of secrecy in
affairs of his relief administration when he won authority from John Colt, state relief director, to
suppress from newspapers a complete salary list of relief employees.

Last Wednesday, at the request of the Courier-Post newspapers,
Cramer instructed his secretary,
Lincoln Wood, Jr., to write Colt and ask for his opinion in the matter. That was after
Cramer had demurred when asked for the salary lists, which were demanded by several Camden organizations
including the Unemployed Union.

Word of Colt's refusal was brought to Camden yesterday by Col. Joseph D. Sears, deputy state
director, who explained that his chief had adopted the policy of withholding the names because it might
cause "embarrassment and a hardship to little fellows" on the relief payroll to have their salaries
published.

Colt's refusal to submit the complete salary lists for public inspection followed the announcement of a
mass meeting tonight in Convention
Hall, when demands will be made for the immediate removal of Cramer and all other officials of the county relief administration.
The meeting will be conducted jointly by the Unemployed Union of New Jersey and the New Jersey
Congress of Civic Associations.

Colonel Sears visited Camden for a conference with
Cramer, Dr.
Stone, Miss Sara Curtis and other city and county relief officials.

It was explained to Colonel Sears that rumors were current in this city that former city employees had
been given jobs with the relief adminis tration in preference to applicants with equal qualifications.

"Of course," said Colonel Sears, "I am not
familiar with the Camden situation, but I can say that I don't know the politics of two percent of persons at the state relief headquarters. Mr. Colt feels it would
result in an undue hardship to little fellows in the employ of the administration to have their salaries
published.

"However, if there is any evidence of unfairness or discrimination in employment it will be possible to
obtain the salaries of three or four persons at a time."

Little Knowledge of Politics

Dr.
Stone, at the conclusion of Col. Sears' discourse, stated that he knew the political faith of less than
one percent the municipal relief offices employees. Wood, speaking for Cramer, echoed the statement
of Col. Sears when he said that the politics of less than two percent of the Camden county
administration was known.

Col. Sears explained that it was the policy of the state administration to employ men and women first,
for their capabilities in relief work, and, second, from the standpoint of their need for financial
assistance.

"If we can't make up our personnel from the first class," he said, "we turn to the second."
Colt has been invited to address the meeting, and Cramer along with other county relief officials, has
been invited to attend. They will be asked to answer charges of the unemployed union that the
administration of relief In Camden county is "inadequate and prejudiced for political expediency."

Other speakers at the meeting will be
Frank J. Manning, president of the Unemployed Union of New
Jersey; Paul Porter, lecturer for the League for Industrial Democracy, and John Edelman, vice chairman
of the Industrial Standards Committee of New Jersey. The meeting opens at 8 p. m .

A demand will also be made by the unemployed union of Colt at the meeting for representation from its
membership within the county relief administration. Clarence E. Moullette is executive secretary of the
union, and William R. Kennedy is vice president.

Prepares Questions

"If the county relief officials attend the meeting," said
Manning "they will be asked to answer some
questions pertinent to the administration of relief which is inadequate and prejudiced for
political expediency. Repeatedly, this organization has tried but failed to obtain fair hearings on its complaints of
the inefficient relief methods."

Moullette announced today he had prepared a list of questions for relief officials to answer.

"We intend to ask Mr.
Cramer to explain why he and Captain Howard receive from eight to ten cents a
mile for operating their automobiles in relief service, while the usual rate for state officials is but five
cents a mile," Moullette said.

Manning announced that formal protest will be made at the mass meeting against the recent conduct of
Cramer in suppressing information concerning his request for the resignation of Dr. A. L. Stone as
Camden municipal relief director.

"The public," said Manning, "is still awaiting an explanation from Mr.
Cramer on his request for
Dr. Stone's resignation. It is the right of the tax-paying public to know the reasons behind that request, and
whether they had any serious bearing on the administration of relief to the poor
and needy."

"Any citizen representing a group of citizens" may examine the list of persons on the payroll of the
Camden County Relief administration, Wayland P.
Cramer, county director, announced yesterday afternoon.

Cramer
said he was awaiting a decision from John Colt, state director, on whether the Payroll may be
published in the newspapers.

The Camden County Emergency Relief Administration and the New Jersey Legislature were raked with
accusations last night at a mass meeting of the local unit of the Unemployed Union of New Jersey, held
in Convention Hall. Five hundred persons heard speakers demand a legislative investigation of the relief bureau.

That the Camden County Emergency Relief Administration is subsidizing sweatshops and that Wayland
P. Cramer, director, is receiving compensation although his position is non-salaried were charged.
The waning session of Legislature was rapped as "notorious for its lack achievement," and "for its
failures".

Led by the boys' band of 37 pieces and the girls' fife and drum corps, the
Camden Catholic High
school student body paraded into the school auditorium at 10.30 a. m. yesterday to pay tribute to the
athletes and other honor students who received awards at the annual "Letter Day" exercises.

Phil Lewis, veteran basketball official and director of physical education of the Philadelphia public
schools, was the principal speaker of the day and told the students that they must be loyal to make their
way in the world.

The surprise speaker of the day was
Bartholomew A.
Sheehan, former Green and White and St. Joseph's College athlete,. who carried the students back 10 years when he was a student at
Camden
Catholic High. In doing this he laid stress on the fact that tradition was the main factor in building up
and carrying the school to its prominent position.

The Rt. Rev. Msgr. William J. FitzGerald, opened the exercises with a short talk after which Reverend
James C. Foley, athletic director of the school introduced the main speaker.

Fred Floyd, president of the evening school of the University of Pennsylvania, told the students that
sports were vital to the development of the youth of today.
After Coach Elmer Hertzler gave a short talk as to what qualities the awards were based on the letter
certificates were awarded by Monsignor FitzGerald.

During the ceremonies 43 varsity Insignias were awarded and 21 prizes given. The prizes were given for
excellence in elocution, school spirit, spelling, typewriting and vocal work.

The 1933 graduating class of 99 boys and 96 girls will be guests of the alumni association tonight at a
reception and dance in the Hotel
Walt Whitman. Diplomas will be awarded at the commencement exercises at 3.30 p. m., Sunday in
Convention Hall.

More
than 2000 members of the I.B.P.E., Colored Elks, participated last, night in a
colorful parade here as climax to, the opening day of the tenth annual state
convention of the order.

The
marchers were reviewed from a stand at the courthouse by J. Finley Wilson,
of Philadelphia, grand exalted ruler of the order and his staff.

Pride
of Camden Lodge, No. 83, which is acting as host to the visiting members,
was led by G. A. Gerran, exalted ruler. Thousands along the line of march
applauded their fine appearance in blue and white uniforms.

Among
lodges represented were Atlantic City, Orange, Plainfield, Quaker City and
O. V. Catto of Philadelphia, Chester and Wilmington lodges and Manhattan
Lodge of New York.

Music
was provided by many bands, fife and drum corps and string organizations.

William
C. Hueston, former assistant solicitor of the U. S. Post Office Department,
and Elks' commissioner of education; addressed the meeting, reporting that
the organization spends more than $9000 a year for scholarships for colored
students.

Speakers
also included William C. Russell of Atlantic City, second vice president of
the state association; Ira Hall, past state president; and W. L. Carter,
general chairman of the state association committee.

Elections
will be held today and the convention will close tonight with a ball at Convention
Hall.

Camden
Courier-Post- June 28, 1933

UNEMPLOYED
UNION TO PLAN FOR FOURTH
Leaders Aim to Have Demonstration Similar to That of Labor Day

Plans
for a Fourth of July demonstration, similar to labor demonstrations
staged throughout the world each year on May 1, will be formulated
tomorrow night at a mass meeting conducted by the Unemployed Union of
New Jersey, according to an announcement yesterday by Frank J. Manning,
president.

Manning
said the meeting in Convention
Hall Annex would be addressed by Mark Starr, professor of economics,
and Josephine Colby, instructor of English, of Brookwood Labor College,
and by three students of the college.

The
Unemployed Union tomorrow night, will demand that the city commission
hold a public hearing on housing conditions in Camden and the proposal
of the union to establish municipally operated living quarters, Manning
said.

Dr.
A. L.
Stone, city health director and chairman of the Camden city
emergency relief administration, will be asked for his conclusions on
representation of the union on the city relief board, Manning
said.

The
demonstration on July 4, according to Manning,
will start with a parade at 10 a. m., to be followed by a mass meeting
on the steps of the City Hall plaza, before the buses and automobiles
leave for Kirkwood Lake, where a picnic will be held in the afternoon.

The
Unemployed Union, according to Manning,
will co-operate with the Socialist Party for the picnic. Norman Thomas
has been invited to speak, he said.

The
three Socialist candidates for Assembly - Manning,
Charles W. Sherlock and Herman
F. Niessner- will present their platforms. In addition. numerous
athletic events; including a baseball game, have been arranged, he said.

"The
Unemployed Union urges all workers and farmers in Camden county to
assemble for a mighty labor demonstration on July 4," Manning
said. "We shall make known our demands for action to relieve
unemployment, to end inhuman wages and ruinously low prices for our
products. We shall set forth the plans at the Continental Congress of
Workers and Farmers, with which the union is affiliated, for wiping
poverty from the face of the earth and for building a world with plenty
and happiness for all.

"We
shall hold a short mass meeting on the steps of City Hall Plaza at which
the New Declaration of Independence of the Continental Congress will be
read.

"July
4 must be made the occasion for building up, the solidarity and power of
farmers and workers. A powerful well-rounded labor movement could drive
corruption and graft out of our public life, abolish sweatshops and
build a workers' world of peace, plenty and freedom."

Regarding
the platform of the three Socialistic candidates for Assembly, Manning
said:

"Our
platform will be constructive and in the interests of the workers and
farmers of the state. We shall go into every corner of this county with
our platform and we shall also challenge our opponents to meet us in
debate so that the voters may have a chance to know where all the
candidates stand on important issues."

Camden
Courier-Post- June 28, 1933

JOBLESS
UNION TO HOLD
EDUCATIONAL MEETING

The
Unemployed Union will hold an all day educational meeting in Convention
Hall; starting at 9.30 a. m. tomorrow: Josephine Colby, instructor of
Public Speaking and English at Brookwood Labor College, Katonah, New York, who
has been instructing a class in Camden under the auspices of the Unemployed
Union will put 50 students through their paces in speaking from the rostrum.

Mark
Starr, instructor of economics at Brookwood Labor College will address, a
large class in economics. The evening will be given over to the students, in
public speaking and they will address the mass meeting of the unemployed. Frank J. Manning
will preside.

Camden
Courier-Post- June 29, 1933

MARK STARR

Professor
of Economics at Brookwood Labor College, Starr will address the mass meeting
at Convention
Hall
today at 8 p.m., under the auspices of the Unemployed Union of Camden County.
Starr’s topic will be "The Significance of the Class
Struggle."

TIME
Magazine - Jan. 21, 1935

Dusek Doings

Famed
professional wrestlers are the Dusek Brothers, Rudy, Ernie, Joe, Emil,
Frank, Ed and Walter. Last week, the doings of the Duseks were more
violent than usual.

In
Omaha, Joe Dusek was thrown out of the ring by his opponent. When
spectators guffawed, Joe Dusek clenched his fists, barked "Wanna
make something out of it?", offered to fight them in a group (see
cut).

In
Boston, Rudy Dusek watched Brother Ernie wrestle an Irishman named Dan
O'Mahoney. When O'Mahoney got the decision, Rudy Dusek jumped into the
ring, tried to assault the referee, started a free-for-all among the
seconds. In addition to helping his brother, Rudy Dusek performed in
five bouts of his own last week.

In
Camden, N. J., a few nights after the bout in Boston, Ernie Dusek
wrestled Gino Garibaldi. A spectator in the balcony hurled down a chair
which hit Ernie Dusek on the head. He was hospitalized.

PLANS for the Sixteenth Annual Charity Ball in the interest of
Cooper Hospital occupied members of
the main auxiliary of that institution yesterday when they met for their monthly business session.

According to present plans, the ball will be held on December 27 in
Convention Hall. This year the music committee, of which Mrs. Joseph
Wallworth, of Haddonfield, is chairman, will present an orchestra of national reputation.

Members of the patroness committee will meet with the chairman, Mrs. Charles T. Murray, at her home, 114 White Horse pike, Haddon Heights, on Friday morning, November 8, at ten o'clock.

Members of the auxiliary have issued a plea for magazines to be distributed throughout the wards. They will be received at the hospital at any time. The members also
pledged the sum of $3000 to the board of managers of the Deep Therapy Fund.

Mrs. William Brown Thompson, of Collingswood, was elected a member of the main auxiliary at yesterday's meeting, and two resignations were accepted, those of Miss Elizabeth Eggie and Mrs. Frank Burr, both of Collingswood. Both Miss Eggie and Mrs. Burr have been active members of the group for many years.

The semi-annual tea for the Associate Auxiliaries throughout the city and suburbs will be held on Thursday in the Nurses Hall, with a business session preceding in the
First M. E.
Church, Sixth and Stevens
streets. Miss Mary Louise Robbins is president of the organization.

Mrs. Harvey N.
Scheirer, of Haddonfield, is president of the main auxiliary and is serving as general chairman of the ball committee.

Walcott and King are scheduled to appear in the. feature eight-rounder at the Civic Center hall and Promoter Lew McFarland will give the victor a belt bought by the Golden Gate Sporting Club, which is sponsoring the show.

Walcott has yet to be put to the test as his last two opponents
here were outclassed. The coffee-colored Merchantville light heavy unquestionably is a great puncher and made a chopping block of Pat "Red" Roland a few weeks ago, the bout being stopped in the fourth round to save the latter from being sent home in a basket. During the outdoor season, Walcott stopped Lew Alva, who was booked
as a Spaniard, but who later proved to be a Philadelphian, in one round.

King Has Good Record

King comes here with a good reputation. According to Promoter
MacFarland, King, who hails from Hackettstown, has had 10 professional fights and won all 10, nine over the knockout route and a six-round win over Abie Bain, who several years ago gave Maxie Rosenbloom a real battle at Madison Square Garden when Rosenbloom held the light heavy title.

McFarland is certain that the fight will be a "sweetheart" with a belt at stake for the winner.

Julius
Lighthiser, who resumed his right name after boxing several bouts under the name of
Frankie "Kid" Carlin, has been forced to pull out of the eight-round semi-final
de« to an attack of arthritis in his neck. Julius
Lighthiser was listed to meet Paul Enno of the Philippine Islands, in a return match, the two having fought a great 'six-rounder in the last show, but Julius, while training caught a punch on his
neck which caused a ligament to cross a nerve and arthritis developed.

Duca Replaces Lightheiser

So Promoter McFarland has signed Mickey Duca of Paulsboro, to act as a substitute for
Lighthiser against
Enno. Lightheiser beat Enno, who is a club fighter. Duca also is a club fighter and the two kids
may steal the thunder of the stars.

Two heavyweights, Al "Peaches" Gray of North Camden, and Jack
Houvig, three-letter athlete at Salem High School a few years ago, meet in the main preliminary of six rounds. Both are good punchers And anxious to please as they are making a comeback after several
years absence from the ring.

In the two preliminary bouts, both six-rounders, Joe Bonomo and
Joe Reno, both residents of South
Camden, trade punches, while Dan Ryrie of Fairview, and Danny McNichol of Merchantville, deadly
rivals, open the show.

In
a match, which found both grapplers using every unorthodox method in attempting to gain victory, Charley
Santon, of Kirksville, Mo., won by default over Ernie Hefner, burly Texan, in the feature scrap last night at the
Convention Hall.

A crowd of 2500 spectators turned out to witness the matmen in action, each gaining a fall, but
Santon being returned the winner when Hefner was counted out after six minutes six second had
elapsed.

Hefner was the first to score a fall when he used a right uppercut to the jaw and then followed up with
a body press to pin Santon in 28 minutes 21 seconds.

However, Santon came back to even matters by taking the second fall in 15 minutes 32 seconds with a
body press. Santon then gained the victory when Hefner was unable to return after being thrown from
the ring, striking a chair with his back.

Santon Starts Fast

The Missourian started out like a reindeer and before the echo of the bell faded, Hefner was tossed
out of the ring in two instances. Still, the burly Texan withstood the bumps and evened matters a
minute later with a couple of knee thrusts.

They continued to slam one another all over the premises with Santon leading in this line by two eye
gouges. The contest waxed warmer as the boys seemed to gain power as it went on. Santon employed
about nine straight eye gouges and had Dutch whirling around in a daze.

Finally, he snapped out of it and used the same methods on his unruly foe, and as he stood near the
ropes groping for them for assistance, Hefner darted across the ring and connected with a terrific drop
-kick.

Santon hit the floor as though pole-axed and Dutch fell on him to score the first fall in 28 minutes 21
seconds with a body press.

Santon Evens Match

Santon unleashed a torrid drive in endeavoring to even the score. He kicked Hefner out onto the floor
seven times. In one instance, both wrestlers toppled into the front row, and Hefner being the first to
arise, grabbed a chair. He took a wicked' shot at Santon's head, but it missed by a couple of inches.
The Kirksville giant also picked up a chair, but two policemen jumped into the fracas among the
crowd.

As soon as they entered the squared circle, Santon draped Dutch over his shoulders and dived into the
mat. He was refused the fall because of hair pulling.

However, a minute later, he won the second fall with a body slam and press in 15 minutes 32 seconds
to necessitate a third and deciding fall.

Dutch was a serious grumbling, cussing, wildman when the action for the deciding fall got underway.
However, the well-built Santon suddenly grabbed a vicious headlock on his adversary and reeled him
near the ropes. As they bounced against the strands, Santon tossed his heavier opponent over the top
rope to land heavily on the chairs in the press row.

It was plain to see
when he hit the floor that the contest was over for the night, and Just as Referee
Seaman reached a count of twenty the game Texan tried to pull himself into the ring.

However, the grind was over and Santon was declared the winner. The time was six minutes and six seconds.

A young girl who was seated In the front row hurt her ankle as the chair Hefner hit squeezed her leg
against her own chair. Dr. Joseph Nowrey, state physician, examined the girl and apparently she was
uninjured as she left the hall with the aid of her escort.

Prior to the fall, Graham was stepping along at a fine pace, laboring the bewhiskered Kentuckian
with kicks, punches and a couple of eye gouges.

He slammed Berger to the mat on three successive occasions, but on his next attempt, he left himself
open for a wicked uppercut. It was then "soft pickens" to end the wild and wooly fracas.

Marconi and Alexander Draw

After 30 minutes of
lack-lustre wrestling, Referee John Seaman ruled Tony Marconi, 200, of Italy,
and Leo Alexander, 200, of Fort Wayne, Ind., even in the second bout of the night.

Alexander, although a rough type
matman, tried his best to make a match out of it, but the stubby
Italian lacked the class. However, what grunting that was done appeared all even.

In a whirlwind finish, Paddy Mack, 180, of Lansdale, Pa., punched Clete Kauffman, 177, of
Columbus, O., into submission in 16 minutes, nine seconds in the opener, using a right to the jaw
followed by a body press. The once-popular Irishman created a near riot with his unorthodox style of
grappling and as Clete started to leave the ring he again ste,rtrd a new outburst by attempting to kick
his rival off the edge of the canvas.

However, the Ohioan jumped back into action, but Mack started for another exit. He was forced to
charge through the gathering about the squared circle, although he received quite a few glancing
blows off the head by the spectators.

Charley
Santon, 220, Kirksville, Mo., won by default over Ernie Hefner, 228, Sherman, Tex. Hefner
won first fall with body press in 28 minutes 21 seconds; Santon second fall with body press, in
15 minutes 32 seconds, and third fall when Hefner was counted out after 6 minutes 6 seconds.

They
will be presented with the cash prize of $1000 tonight at a "victory" ball in the main
auditorium of the Camden
Convention Hall by W. E. Tebbetts, who conducted the walkathon,
which lasted 122 days or 2928 hours. The contest began October 8 and
continued for four months all but a day.

Forty-eight
contestants were in the contest, at the beginning. The race was narrowed
down to two, Miss White. and Wallace, and Miss Mary Jones, of Vineland,
and Otto Mason, 423 Lansdowne Avenue, Camden, on Wednesday night. Miss
Jones and

Mason
finished second and receive no prize money. The contest ended at 11.30
p. m.
yesterday.

Johnny
Lue and Joseph Purcell, judges, ordered a match race for the contesting
girls on Wednesday night. The lights were turned off long enough to make
the contestants sleepy. Then they were required to make 11
laps
within a minute which I
the
girls accomplished. On Thursday night another race was held for I
the
girls and Miss White won.

Last
night the judges ordered the same kind of a match between Wallace and
Mason. If this had failed the judges announced that grind without rest
or privileges would be staged to end the contest. Wallace made the 11
laps
and Mason failed. Wallace is a former featherweight boxer. .

Harry
Kahn and his 14-piece orchestra will furnish the music and a floor show of
four acts has been arranged by Roland R. Hitchens, athletic director of
the local industry. The entertainment will include Jack and Jessie Gibson,
trick cyclists; Bud Carlett and Company, formerly with the Barnum and
Bailey circus; Lou Hoffman, comedy juggler, and The Three Jacks, musical
comedy stars.

The
affair is one of the many held by the Victor Athletic Association, whose
membership is more than 5000.

Camden
Courier-Post * February 20, 1936

BASEBALL
PICTURE TO BE SHOWN HERE

American League Stars to Demonstrate Plays in Film at Civic Hall

More
than 5000 baseball enthusiasts fans and players are expected to crowd
Convention Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 8.00 p. m., when the new American
League all-talking picture "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" and
the pictures of the 1935 World Series will be shown.

In
this film, outstanding stars of the American League will show how they
play their position. Lefty Grove, Tommy Bridges, School Boy Rowe, Eldon
Auker, Ted Lyons, Lefty Gomez and Wes Ferrel will demonstrate how they
baffle the batter with their curves, fast ball and delivery.

Mickey
Cochrane is one of the catchers who show how to play backstop. Jimmie Foxx
now with Boston, gives you the inside on playing first base. Joe Cronin
and Lyn .Lary are the short stops seen in action and Buddy Meyer, Charlie
Gehringer show the art of playing second, while Bill Werber and Pinkey
Higgins help demonstrate the proper way of playing third base. The
outfield positions are demonstrated by Joe Vosmik, Julius Solter, Ben
Chapman, Goose Goslin and others.

A
full reel of the 1935 World Series battle between the Chicago Cubs and the
Detroit Tigers which gave Detriot the world title also will be shown.

The
films and equipment have been obtained through the efforts of the Camden
Lions Club who is sponsoring the affair through the courtesy of Connie
Mack, The Athletics and the American League.

The
public is invited to see these pictures without charge.

Camden
Courier-Post * February 28, 1936

CIVIL
RIGHTS GROUP HAS MEETING HEREDeath
of Worker in Tampa, Fla., Protested at Convention Hall Gathering

More
than 300 persons last night attended a protest meeting of the Committee
for the Defense of Civil Rights in Tampa, Fla., held in Convention Hall
under the auspices of the Camden Workers' Alliance.

Eugene
F. Poulnot, and chairmen of the Florida Workers' Alliance, and Dr. Samuel
D. Rogers, both socialists, were the principal speakers. Benjamin
Carwardine, west coast representative of the Industrial Union of Marine
and Shipbuilding Workers of America, also spoke.

Poulnot
and Dr. Rogers made a plea for support in their protest against the death
of a fellow-worker, Joseph Shoemaker. They charged he was tortured and
murdered by Tampa police who raided a private home while the men were
framing a constitution for the Modern Democrats, a liberal political
organization formed by Shoemaker.

FAIRVIEW
LEGION PLANS
AMATEUR BOXING MEETING
Competition to be Held Camden for Three Nights in May
BLANKS TO ENTER ARE NOW
READY

Fairview
Post No. 71, American Legion, will stage what promises to be the
biggest amateur boxing
tournament ever held in New Jersey on the nights of May 12, 13 and 16,
at Convention Hall. The
Golden Gloves Championship will be held for the Middle Atlantic
states. Boxers from three states will vie with each other for the
glory and the prizes that are !o be awarded. Fairview Post is a member
of the Middle Atlantic Association A. A. U. and the bouts will be
sanctioned by that body. Applications of amateurs who wish to compete
are available at the Post home, Black Horse Pike and Collings Road,
Camden. James R. Reed is general chairman of the committee. Joseph
"Chubby" Stafford, undefeated amateur bantamweight champion,
will assist the committee in an advisory capacity. Others named to the
committee are James J. Leitch, advertising; Edward
J. Bosch, Thomas Gibson and John B. Hegerich, tickets. Emerson
Richards is secretary of the committee.

On
Sunday. March 1 at Fairview Post, there will be a meeting. called by
Department Vice Commander Jack Whomsley, of all county commanders and
department executive committeemen of the counties in South Jersey on
the first caucus for the national commander's visit to New Jersey to
be held on April 1. The meeting is called for 2 p. m. sharp. The
delegation will be the guests of the Camden county executive
committee.

Camden
Courier-Post - February 28, 1936

George
R. Cholister Post No. 3247, Auxiliary,
Veterans
of Foreign Wars. Mrs. Margaret Goodwin, president, has
appointed the following to serve with the committee in connection with
the second annual V. F. W. Ball which will be held in Convention Hall:
Mrs. Florence Belsey, Mrs. Emma Pfersich, Mrs. Sophia Brown, Mrs.
Harriett Madden. Attending the conference in Trenton last Sunday were
Mrs. Goodwin, Mrs. Pfersich, Mrs. Brown and Mrs. a Margaret Randolph.
There will be a meeting at the Post headquarters Monday night.

More
than 1500 persons are expected to attend a testimonial and birth day
dinner to be held February 17, in honor of Freeholder John
Daly, of the First ward, in Convention
Halll.

Clarence
E. Moullette, chairman of the banquet committee, announced
yesterday, that 1500 tickets printed for the affair, 1425 have been
distributed. He urged persons planning to attend the banquet not to
depend on the purchase of tickets at the door of Convention
Hall, but to buy them now as the supply is fast be coming depleted.

Tickets,
Moullette
said, may be ordered from him by calling City Hall, or from Harry
Janice, chairman of the ticket committee, who has a supply at 325 State
Street.

Camden
Courier-Post * February 5, 1938

LIBERTY AND WILSON
CLASH IN PLAYOFFFirst-Half Season Title
of Grammar League Is at Stake Today

Liberty
and H.B. Wilson
will battle it out this afternoon at 2,30 0' clock at Convention Hall
for the first-half title of the National Division of the Camden Grammar
School League.

Both
teams finished the first half with six victories and one defeat. Liberty
handed Wilson its lone reverse, while Stevens
pulled an upset by downing the former.

Some
of the players from each school graduated during the past week, but, as
they represented their schools all during the first half, they will be
permitted to see action in the playoff.

Liberty
is led by Archie Luzi, diminutive sharpshooter, who led the league in
scoring with 74 markers in seven games. He far outclassed the others as
can be seen readily when the statistics show that his nearest rival,
O'Neal of Sumner,
took second place honors by scoring 39 points.

Bizazzo,
Shuda, Hare, Eulo and Luzi will probably start the game for Liberty. Wilson
will use Garzarelli, Scarbonja, Ross, Mahoney, Lapiska and Kevis.

The
Parkside
netmen should strengthen their grip on first place in the, South Jersey
Indoor Tennis League when they encounter Delanco in the final match of
the day Sun day at the Convention
Hall courts.

Two
other matches are scheduled with the second place Camden Racquet team
meeting Pyne Poynt and Collingswood facing Crescent in the opening scrap
at 11 a. m. The Camden-Pyne Poynt tilt is listed to start at four
o'clock and, the Parkside-Delanco fracas at 7 o'clock.

The
Parkside tennis team is setting the pace with 11 points, holding a
half-point margin over the runner-up

Camden
Racquet outfit. Parkside is the only unbeaten team in the circuit with a
pair of wins and a tie and should easily take over Delanco, which has
dropped all of its three matches to date and is in last place with five
points.

Following
the opening match on Sunday, a Philadelphia Tennis League match will be
staged between Camden and Philadelphia Rifle Club, starting at 1
o'clock.

According
to Wendell Anderer, president of the South Jersey Indoor League, persons
having made reservations for courts on Sunday should be ready to play at
their specified time, instead of taking the courts sometimes 15 minutes
later than their allotted time.

Other guests, according to
Moullette, will be U. S. Senator John Milton, of Jersey City, and a
representative of Senator William H. Smathers.

Moullette announced he and
Daly Thursday visited Marvin
McIntyre, secretary to President Roosevelt, at the White House, Daly used the opportunity to plead the cause of
Tom Mooney.

Camden
Courier-Post - February 15, 1938

INDIAN GUEST LISTED
FOR DALY BANQUETMontana Chieftain to Send Son as Envoy to Testimonial for Freeholder

Chief Rain-on-the-Rump, whose tepee is pitched in Medicine Hat,
Montana, is expected to send his son as an envoy when John Daly, First ward freeholder, is feted on February 17. The banqet will be held in
Convention
Hall and is expected to be the largest occasion of its nature known in Camden in years.

Daly was showing the letter, which he said had come from his old
friend and sachem in Montana, and said he would make the Redskin welcome with an Injun war-whoop.

The pemmican which will be spread before the chieftain and others who
gather will comprise a menu which paleface and aborigine alike might relish.

Clarence E. Moullette, chairman of the banquet committee, reported the
list of guests will comprise a real Who's Who in Camden. Invitations have been sent to Congressmen
Charles A. Wolverton and Elmer
Wene, Gov. A. Harry Moore, | Senator John Milton, Senator Robert M. LaFollette and others, prominent in national and state politics.
Mayor George E. Brunner and his fellow commissioners will represent the city, while the Federal, state and municipal judiciary also will be
represented.

Freeholder
Andrew J. McMahon will be toastmaster, while a new
position, honorary toastmaster, will be conferred on Frank H. Ryan, managing editor of the Courier-Post newspapers.

Camden
Courier-Post - February 17, 1938

40-PIECE STRING BAND TO HELP HONOR DALY

A string band accompaniment for the dinner in honor of Freeholder
John
Daly of the First ward in Convention Hall tonight, was announced by
Harry R. James, general chairman of the dinner committee.

The recently-organized Camden City string band of 40 pieces, conducted
by Maurice Tulini, is to march from Point and
York streets to
Convention Hall, arriving at 9 p. m. Joseph Burke is president of the
band.

More than 1000 persons, including men prominent in national, state and
local circles, are expected to attend the dinner celebrating Daly's seventy-sixth
birthday.

Sponsored
by Sealtest Dairies, this program originated from WCAU-TV, Channel 10 in
Philadelphia and was carried coast to coast on CBS-TV. It aired
Saturdays from noon to 1:00 PM. The show originally was produced at the
Camden Convention Hall when it premiered in 1953. These pictures were
taken there, prior to the June 1953 fire which destroyed the building.

WCAU-TV
Personalities Bill Hart (left) and Chris Keegan (right)

A
troupe of Aerialists

A
lion tamer

A
performer on an elephant

Also
originating out of the old Convention Hall was a television show called
Candy Carnival, which premiered on January 6,
1953. The show was sponsored
by M & M candy, thus the name Candy Carnival. It too moved back to
Philadelphia after the fire, and eventually was renamed Contest Carnival.
The show ran until about 1955. Long-time Philadelphia air personality Gene
Crane hosted the show when it was in Camden.

This
aerial photo, cropped from a larger photograph showing the dismantlement
of the railroad that had run from the old ferry terminal through the
heart of Camden, shows the old Armory, then known as "Convention
Hall",
at Carteret Street
and the east end of Mickle Street.
Cooper Hospital is at the top of the photograph.

I
used to go watch roller derby every week at the Convention Center. It
was a very exciting sport. I always left there with a sore throat from
hooping and hollering.... the warriors were the best! Loved those match
races, and I really missed it when the sport faded. They made a comeback
years later but it was never the same as it was with Jim Trotter, Judy
Arnold, and Little Richard.....

The
only thing I did not like about going to the roller derby was the fans
always got to fighting a lot of the time, a sad thing that discouraged a
lot of people from attending.

Floyd
Miller Jr.
November 2004

.......Some national stars I remember making an appearance in
Camden. Smokey
Robinson and the Miracles were at a movie house. I did not go, but
my teenage brother, who stayed for a second show was severely
punished when he arrived home. Also, Jackie Wilson appeared at
the Convention Center, and almost caused a riot, as he arrived late. A
packed crowd was standing all the time waiting for him, to which when
he got on stage, only sang a couple of songs and then left the stage,
and needless to say all heck broke out.......
Also, the great wrestler Bruno Sanmartino had a fantastic match at the
Convention Center